James W. Lent Jr. USMC (Ret) climbs into the cockpit of his F-4 Phantom jet in Vietnam.
TIVERTON — A Tiverton native is among six pilots who will be indicted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame at Varnum Armory in East Greenwich on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.
One of two living inductees in this year’s group, former Tiverton resident Lieutenant Colonel James W. Lent Jr. USMC (Ret) served three combat tours in Vietnam, flying three different aircraft with distinctly different missions.
During these three tours, LTC Lent flew a total of 842 combat missions and 949 combat hours, an accomplishment surpassed by only a select few US military aviators.
Having graduated from De La Salle Academy in Newport and Holy Cross College, he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1960, and was designated a naval aviator in the following year.
In his first Vietnam tour (1964-65), he flew the H-34 helicopter in support and medevac missions out of Danang. From April, 1968 - May, 1969, he flew the A-4 Skyhawk attack jet with VMA-311 out of Chu Lai, providing close air support for Marines on the ground.
In 1972 he flew the F-4J Phantom II fighter/attack jet in combat. During his 21-year career, LTC Lent amassed a total of 3,482 flight hours flying 18 different aircraft. He also completed 123 day and night carrier landings.
LTC Lent’s combat awards include three Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars with Combat V, and 42 air medals, with one meritorious single mission gold star.
After leaving the service he earned his a law degree in international business and taxation. He continues to practice in Pensacola, Fla., where he now resides.
Tickets cost $50 per person ($90 per couple). Reservations can be made by calling 401-398-1000 or by visiting www.riahof.org.
Information on the other inductees is also available at that site.
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